Life-span, life-space theory is a prominent model in vocational psychology developed by the American psychologist Donald Super. It holds that career development is a lifelong process shaped by an individual's evolving self-concept and by the various social roles a person occupies across their lifespan. The theory integrates developmental psychology with a focus on life roles and career maturity, and forms the foundation for many career counseling practices worldwide.
Facts
Core ClaimA person's career develops across the whole life span through the interaction of an evolving self-concept with the sequence of life roles and life stages, called the life-space, that the person occupies over time. 1 FAQs
What stages of a career does Super describe?
Five stages: growth, exploration, establishment, maintenance and decline or disengagement.
Donald Super described five stages of career development: growth, exploration, establishment, maintenance and decline or disengagement. Each stage has its own tasks and challenges. Because the theory treats a career as a lifelong process, a person can be working through the tasks of a stage while also holding several life roles at once, such as parent, student or community member.
Connections
Developed By
Source Life-span, life-space theory (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Life-span, life-space theory (Wikipedia)
WikipediaReferences section, Super 1980 entry
Super, Donald E. (1980). "A life-span, life-space approach to career development". Journal of Vocational Behavior. 16 (3): 282-298.
Developed By: Donald E. Super, Lead section
The Life-span, life-space theory is a prominent model in vocational psychology developed by American psychologist Donald Super.
In Group: Adult Development Frameworks, Lead
The Life-span, life-space theory is a prominent model in vocational psychology developed by American psychologist Donald Super.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.